So, not short at all in distances but these are my favorites. I go to Salem the night before and stay in a hotel so that adds to the cost. For Seapac on the Oregon Coast my wife goes along and we stay in Cannon Beach, Oregon for the weekend which is very nice in the summer. Cannon Beach Oregon is about 7 miles south of Seaside, Oregon. My wife's hobby is bird photography and that is one of her favorite spots for shore birds. I make the long trip to Salem to hook up with my high-school ham radio buddies so that trip is sort of a mini-reunion and often the only time we meet.

QUESTION:With the current price of gas in your area, how far would you travel to a fest this year?

Central MA to Philadelphia, PA to Dayton, OH and back is about 1600 miles. That's how far I will travel to a hamfest this year..... but it's the Hamvention; world's largest hamfest in the world's crappiest location. With three guys in the vehicle, gas, tolls, and lodging, etc. are down near the noise floor of the yearly "toy money" budget.

on 4/4 gas is $2.59 here in Bruce and tuesday was 2.55 in minnesota. so its more a question of what is gas price where you are going or going thru, than the price in Chicago.Superior hamfest first week in May. about 100 miles from here. Several locals go every year. Also Carlton Mn. same distance. 3m in St Paul. 90 miles. Normal distance for a number of bigger ham fests.

If you enjoy getting out and meeting other hams and seeing all kinds of equipment, then the cost of gas should not be that much of a deterrent.Unless of course, money is tight, then that is another thing all together.I go to the Belton Texas Hamfest twice a year and HAMCOM in Plano, Tx.(Dallas area for those that do not know where Plano is). From my qth Belton is about 120 miles and Plano is 90 miles. I drive a 97 Dodge dieselpickup that gets 23-25 mpg on the road and 20 in town. Diesel prices havebeen staying around $3.80 here too. But, even though work this year hasslowed down for me quite a bit, I still plan to attend all three hamfests. I may not buy anything, (I do have some toy money) but, the fun of seeingpeople I know and all the goodies........including the new Flex 6000 Seriesradios (that I cannot afford but, can drool over!!) is enough to make me wantto go anyway. And I also try to attend local hamfests as well. Some of ourlocal hamfests have all but dried up. Vendors don't show up and few sellers.LOTS of buyers though! One I went to, I sold all but one radio that I had for sale.The other three sold in a matter of minutes. People were just hungry for the chanceto buy some decent equipment at a fair price. I don't do the "I can sell it on eBayfor more" thing. I know what I paid for something and how much enjoyment I gotout of using it. And if that is covered, then all is good. I made a little profit, but, notover priced eBay style. Anyway, didn't mean to get off on that. But, do go if you can afford it. If one far awayis too expensive to attend, then, if there's a local hamfest that is fading away, attendit and bring some of your unused goodies and sell them at a fair price so you can attendthe hamfests you want to go to!!jamesWD5GWY

Over the years from the Cincinnati area I've traveled to hamfests in Butler, PA; Shelby, NC; Peoria, IL; Orlando, FL and Huntsville, AL to mention but a few and a minimum of a five hour drive time-one way. And I'm not a vendor. I enjoy the experience of hamfests outside of my home region and seeing equipment and junque that I don't see at the local fests. Perhaps it's because Dayton is in my backyard that I don't mind traveling. It's also a reason to see other parts of our nation that I might not have a reason to experience otherwise. So there's expenses involved. If you like doing it-do it. You can't take it with you.

I refuse to let the *(*&^% people take going to Dayton away from me because of the gas price. Its not cheep but its my yearly fun trip. I have a few guys with me usually and they help pay some of the expenses except for first timers, they get to come with me for free their first time!

For me its 260 miles each way from Mt Morris Michigan to Dayton OH, I use my Wifes van (holds more people then my pickup and don't worry about rain for all our treasures we find) the van gets about 23 miles to the gallon so that's 22 gallons of liquid gold at 4$ a gallon is 88$ then there is the hotel that's 125$ a night for 3 nights 375$ so it looks like 500$ for me to walk in the place.

I know its a lot of money but it is the one thing I get to every year, my Wife told me I had to go ( I did not get to go last year, some kids burnt one of my stores to the ground just before Dayton last year) I am driving her nuts and she needs her weekend with the house to herself!

This year I have a new guy that has only had his ticket for a few years, he is almost 70 year old and he is like a kid all excited, I love that!

I have went along before and I will do it again but its such a waist I can carry 4 guys, the hotel I rent has a full kitchen and places for 4 to sleep so it really does not cost me anything more and I enjoy the conversation there and back in the van.

As long and I am blessed to be able to afford it I will continue to go.

For me its 260 miles each way from Mt Morris Michigan to Dayton OH, I use my Wifes van (holds more people then my pickup and don't worry about rain for all our treasures we find) the van gets about 23 miles to the gallon so that's 22 gallons of liquid gold at 4$ a gallon is 88$ then there is the hotel that's 125$ a night for 3 nights 375$ so it looks like 500$ for me to walk in the place.

I know people who drop more than that at the tables in Las Vegas, and that's not including getting there! To me, $500 for a 3 day vacation is getting off cheap. Tailgating/flea market is another matter...

I do a fair bit of travel for work, and always try to stay at the same hotel/motel chain. That way I earn points that can be traded for free nights. Last year all my vacation motel nights were free, greatly reducing costs.

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